Thanks Robin for the link. That was the reason I made my purchase. Prices for the 2 Dragon kits, considered buying them first from the net where I bought these 3, might have been better, but this kit looks the part as I can judge from my hobby with H0 trains. Will need some detail for brakes and dishes and some other stuff. But that will be no problem, just have to dig in with the train guys. LZ makes some nice resin and PE for aftermarket and still available I hope. Not sure yet about the brake systems used on this flatbed. If it is Knorr Hildebrandt (I hope so) it is a bingo. Have to do some reading, been a long time with the trains and stuff.

Hi. Got my Ssys delivered this week. First looks are just unbelievable. Nice and clean moulds. The thing I was hoping for and also came true, no fancy cylinders or whatever. Just clean chassis. Only point of critique, they simply do not know the right position of the flat buffer on the wagon. Well that said, I did some research over the last weeks, measurements! All ok. Details on the bogies, call it a B+. Ordered sets from LZ from Ireland and RB for extra fine detail. Bogies first, which means a series of 6 pieces on my desk.Photos of the build will follow, also pictures of the kit contents. Small teaser>>>

First builds of these bogies come from 1943. I will combine details from LZ webpage, the CD ROM provided with the sets and some websites from Germany and The Netherlands. A lot of scratch building coming my way, I love it.I will keep you all posted while progress is worth showing.

I'll be following this one. A very interesting subject for me. I have often thought about doing a platform car, but never ventured beyond that. This might take me over the line into actually doing one!

Hi all. I made a start with on of the bogies. Easy and good fit of the parts.I'm going to add all brake systems and lines, so I don't follow the manual at all. For each bogie axle bearings will be mounted upon completion. From drawings I found on the Net some minor details need to be added before I can move on.

Box Art from Sabre (The looks are vintage Roco)

On top of the box a set of LZ with resin parts and a PE with all levers for the brake system. CD ROM included.

Detail of the Buffers for the Ssys RB Models. Workable with 2 springs inside. Looks the part. Not cheap, but much better than the plastic versions

Like the real thing. Shape is good. But for the extra detail edges get some sanding, make them smooth. This is basic frame for each bogie.

Nice photo from a German Archive. The Platform wagon shows detail of a manual brake system, not sure if these are Ssys. Will have to check. But the size of the wagon comparing to the Panthers...

Hi. Last link shows a SSyms. 3 axle bogies. (Dragon has a kit of the SSyms) Special builds for the very heavy German tanks. Both SSys & SSyms were used after the war up to the late '80 early '90. Use is endless for diorama. T-55 from the NVA on SSyms or SSys how cool would that be... From the photos I found out how it works with the brake system. It is retractable and most of the time not present.

Hi. Made some progress on the brake system for the bogies.Added the triangles to the brake shoes. A lot of work, but later on it will bring so much detail. Made it from 1mm styrene and added hex nuts.

This the fit of the axles with wheel and brake shoes. Wheels on a free ride.

Then I figured out how to add triangles

One wheel and axle where used, together with the bearings. Dry fit and glue the triangles, side by side.After all the inside triangles where fit, buffer sides followed.

I choose to finish the buffer side first because the levers differ from the inside. I'm not sure yet if the complete axles with wheel will be easy to add when all is ready. In that case I remove the little strip below the bearings and replace them later.

Hi. Some little progress as from yesterday.Levers for handling the brakes. Scratch build from styrene. Also some detail from the bearings. Detail is very good out of the box. Compliments to Sabre Models for that. Real joy to build this kit. Yesterday I added the mounting for the levers, made from 1.2mm copper tubing. All parts for the other side of the bogies prepared too, not mounted yet.

Triangles in place with the levers. They look a bit shabby but some extra detail will make them look more solid.

Bearings, very good detail with the lid for greasing as a separate part, perfect. You can add detail to a diorama, placing a railwayman greasing the bearings, mounting them opened.

Mounting strips to strengthen the brake system, sort of a point zero. These will be attached on the outside of every bogie. Scratch build from styrene.

Detail with some bolt from Archer PE sheet. Maybe to long, but option to make extra hole on the inside and cut the ends to make it fit, we will see.

That is it for now. Maybe a bit boring, you don't see the flatbed (it it will take some time) but details on this part of the wagon makes the difference in the end.

Hi all.I got a little bored on the bogies, have some issues to solve with the levers which are not correct. I have to cut out some parts on each side and replace it somewhat lower. To get a fresh view on to do that, I started to make the buffer plates.Pretty nice moulded resin from LZ replaces the hook and other assemblies. Buffers are from brass and come from RB Models. Had to drill some holes to make the connections ok. When you follow the manual, it goes wrong and the air hoses will cross. Also goes for the buffer plates, use the internet for reference. All glued with CA.Next were the 4 parts that make the flatbed. I reworked the undersides of each one. Made planking with a scriber and added the grain with various technique. Gave it a wash to see the effect. A six hour job and it makes it so much better. After glueing the main parts of the brake system were added. Valves and air tank. Air tank was made of a fine liner with the right diameter.Added connectors and all was glued in place.

Photos...

Sabre Models gives an good moulding performance. No glimpse of flash and good detail. There is only one thing that is annoying. The sides are made out of four separate, but identical pieces. This means detail from the outside gets mirrored on the inside. I will clean all sides scratch the details from reference.

Took this build thread from shelves of doom and some work done over the last week(s). Almost finished the first SSys now. Paint job was a long time issue, couldn't rely on the weather here in Thailand. Now I have own house I created hobby space and am able to paint inside with climate control. So off to a restart of this build.Test if the Imgur did not change it's service.The work so far:

No changes to their excellent service. Thanks god!What you see in the above pictures is the underside of the SSys. Still some work on the bogies to be done like the guards for the breaking system and axles.I painted some planking areas in a red wood colour. I will apply transparent wood decals from HGW. Gloss that and use hairspray technique to reveal some damage on those areas.The same procedure will be done for the top. All paintwork is basically done. After the the hairspray and chipping decals will be next and detail painting will start after that.Made a giant leap in process, so I will upload more later.

More to come this weekend. Need to upload a lot to Imgur to make it a logical sequence of building pictures.Also the load for this SSys is closing to the finish line. It will be a Tiger, the reason these flatbeds were designed for after all.

To continue with some inspirational photos from the German Bundes Archives.Photos, some in colour, mostly in black & white have the atmosphere I want to achieve in my build. The details shown are essential when you want to build it right. There was a topic lately about tracks from a new brand from Europe. I compared the Sabre issued tracks with kit and found out they are similar to e.g. Trumpeters(sprue layout is 1:1). But when you want a little more "fine scale" these tracks are too high and fat. Shape is not ok, Also for the sleepers, but a plus, the mounting brackets look pretty good. By the time I come to lay out the tracks, it will be wood and steel, with etched brackets and nails. Got a nice link to a shop in Germany and are very tempted to buy their stuff already, but patience is needed and can wait.I bought 3 kits of the Sabre SSys, number two is in progress, as I build the bogies simultaneously, as with the breaking system levers. The wooden planking and rest of the installations are still to do, which is a lot of work.

Planning my diorama I looked for the real thing. That means you see a lot of space when it comes to railroads. So many times you see beautiful models but the environment created is too busy, like a fancy fair with all things available.

I'm looking for this:People living near the loading platform somewhere in Ukraine Wide landscapes of Ukraine, one can see the length of a platform (it's way from even a big railway station)Tigers on a platform in an almost desolated environment. Note the sun screen above one of the Tigers!Details of coupling the wagons

Got to go now, food is waiting at the market, have a cold LEO and some Thai Food.

WOW Robert ! This is a great tutorial on taking your basic railcar to the next level. I will follow this one closely as I want to do a late 1950's/early 60's diorama, civilian/military mix.Thank you for posting this and keep up the good work !Tom